Losing a tooth is a significant adjustment that affects most aspects of life. For example, it interferes with the capacity to speak, the ability to eat, and one's willingness to socialize. Such a dramatic shift impacts quality of life and self-esteem. Accordingly, obtaining a tooth replacement is a matter of psychological health and mental wellness, as much as it is an asset of oral health.

Here at Burbank Family Dentistry in Burbank, IL, Dr. Gerald Ward can help you select and install a tooth fixture that’s right for you, whether that’s a bridge, partial denture, or a dental implant.

More about Tooth Loss

As alluded to above, a lost tooth can make it hard to chew when eating, make communication more difficult, and create social anxiety. There could also be a shift in teeth that changes alignment, causing an irregular bite and the rest of the teeth not to wear evenly. Teeth wearing unevenly can weaken specific teeth faster leading to more tooth loss. Moreover, if a tooth is lost for long enough, the jawbone shrinks to compensate for lost bone. Accordingly, it’s best to find a replacement quickly.

Our Tooth Replacements

Today, there are a few tooth replacement options available to patients, such as:

• Fixed bridges, which are bridges of false teeth that are cemented into place and bonded to adjacent teeth. They do not require surgery as the pontic, or replacement tooth, isn’t implanted.
• Partial dentures, which are removable sections of teeth that can be taken out to be cleaned, and are easy to repair.
• Dental implants, which are biocompatible metal posts that are implanted into the jaw bone to create a permanent, non-removable, fixture for a crown to be attached to. The added crown provides a natural functionality and appearance that is unrivaled by other tooth replacement treatments.

Need a Consultation?

A good measure of quality of life is how often you smile. Lost teeth can really impact that. Fortunately, modern technology affords us options like dental implants to fix the problem.

To learn more, call Burbank Family Dentistry in Burbank, IL, at (708) 424-2900 to learn more about available restorations.